Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BERLIN2593
2006-09-01 16:01:00
SECRET
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMAN THOUGHTS ON SANCTIONS, EU3 UNITY
how-toVZCZCXRO3319 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV DE RUEHRL #2593 2441601 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 011601Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5086 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0379 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 8761
S E C R E T BERLIN 002593
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016
TAGS: EU IR KNNP PARM PGOV PREL UN
SUBJECT: GERMAN THOUGHTS ON SANCTIONS, EU3 UNITY
REF: SECSTATE 143323
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY DCM JOHN KOENIG FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d
).
S E C R E T BERLIN 002593
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016
TAGS: EU IR KNNP PARM PGOV PREL UN
SUBJECT: GERMAN THOUGHTS ON SANCTIONS, EU3 UNITY
REF: SECSTATE 143323
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY DCM JOHN KOENIG FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (U) Summary: Charge raised Iran with Foreign Office State
Secretary (U/S-equivalent) August 30 and Embassy delivered
SIPDIS
reftel demarche August 31. Germany is ready for discussion
of Iran to return to the Security Council and supports
discussion of punitive measures. The critical task, in
Berlin's view, is keeping Russia and China on the same page
as the U.S., UK, France, and Germany. End summary
2. (C) Charge Koenig discussed Iran August 30 with Foreign
Office State Secretary Reinhard Silberberg, who said it was
clear the Iranian case would go back to the Security Council,
and there needed to be a discussion of punitive measures.
Germany's goal, according to Silberberg, was to ensure the
international community remained in lock-step on Iran.
Silberberg said the Iranians had created a great deal of
difficulty in an already uncertain situation. He said
Larijani would like to engage in negotiations, but Germany
could not do so against this background.
3. (C) Poloff delivered demarche points (Ref A) in separate
meetings on August 31 with the Foreign Office's Deputy
Commissioner for Arms Control Ruediger Luediking, the Head of
the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Division Hellmut
Hoffmann, and the newly-installed Director of the Iran
Office, Sabine Sparwasser. Ambassador Luediking affirmed
that Germany would support sanctions "if the UNSC goes that
route." Hoffmann commented that the Lebanon was expected to
receive the bulk of the attention at the September 1-2
Gymnich meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, downplaying the role
Iran would play on the agenda. Both Luediking and Sparwasser
noted the EU3 remains united on the need to act in response
Iran's belligerence, and expect the EU Presidency's statement
on the matter to closely reflect the EU3's thoughts.
Sanctions Mechanics:
--------------
4. (C) Global Affairs officer met separately with Ministry of
Economics and Technology (BMWi) Export Control Desk Officer
Christof Wegner September 1 to inquire about the steps that
Germany would take to implement any sanctions that the UNSC
should decide to impose on Iran. Wegner said that would
depend on the wording of the UNSC resolution and how the
European Commission (EC) would interpret it. Presumably the
EC would have EU-wide jurisdiction over the sanctions and
draft the necessary regulations, as opposed to individual EU
members drafting regulations at the national level. Provided
the EC in Brussels drafts the regulations, subject to
approval by all EU member states, the EC would publish them
in the official journal of the EU, at which point they would
be binding. All EU member states would have to adhere to
them.
5. (C) Wegner noted that, in this scenario, the GOG would not
have to draft regulations and instead would amend existing
laws, presumably the Foreign Trade and Payments Act (FTPA),
to incorporate the sanctions' provisions and penalties for
violations. Considering that the sanctions are likely to be
economic in nature, the BMWi would probably have the lead in
amending the FTPA. The government would publish the amended
laws in the federal gazette, at which point they would be
binding. Wegner said that any violations of UN or EU
sanctions would be a felony, with a minimum penalty of one
year in prison.
TIMKEN JR
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016
TAGS: EU IR KNNP PARM PGOV PREL UN
SUBJECT: GERMAN THOUGHTS ON SANCTIONS, EU3 UNITY
REF: SECSTATE 143323
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY DCM JOHN KOENIG FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (U) Summary: Charge raised Iran with Foreign Office State
Secretary (U/S-equivalent) August 30 and Embassy delivered
SIPDIS
reftel demarche August 31. Germany is ready for discussion
of Iran to return to the Security Council and supports
discussion of punitive measures. The critical task, in
Berlin's view, is keeping Russia and China on the same page
as the U.S., UK, France, and Germany. End summary
2. (C) Charge Koenig discussed Iran August 30 with Foreign
Office State Secretary Reinhard Silberberg, who said it was
clear the Iranian case would go back to the Security Council,
and there needed to be a discussion of punitive measures.
Germany's goal, according to Silberberg, was to ensure the
international community remained in lock-step on Iran.
Silberberg said the Iranians had created a great deal of
difficulty in an already uncertain situation. He said
Larijani would like to engage in negotiations, but Germany
could not do so against this background.
3. (C) Poloff delivered demarche points (Ref A) in separate
meetings on August 31 with the Foreign Office's Deputy
Commissioner for Arms Control Ruediger Luediking, the Head of
the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Division Hellmut
Hoffmann, and the newly-installed Director of the Iran
Office, Sabine Sparwasser. Ambassador Luediking affirmed
that Germany would support sanctions "if the UNSC goes that
route." Hoffmann commented that the Lebanon was expected to
receive the bulk of the attention at the September 1-2
Gymnich meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, downplaying the role
Iran would play on the agenda. Both Luediking and Sparwasser
noted the EU3 remains united on the need to act in response
Iran's belligerence, and expect the EU Presidency's statement
on the matter to closely reflect the EU3's thoughts.
Sanctions Mechanics:
--------------
4. (C) Global Affairs officer met separately with Ministry of
Economics and Technology (BMWi) Export Control Desk Officer
Christof Wegner September 1 to inquire about the steps that
Germany would take to implement any sanctions that the UNSC
should decide to impose on Iran. Wegner said that would
depend on the wording of the UNSC resolution and how the
European Commission (EC) would interpret it. Presumably the
EC would have EU-wide jurisdiction over the sanctions and
draft the necessary regulations, as opposed to individual EU
members drafting regulations at the national level. Provided
the EC in Brussels drafts the regulations, subject to
approval by all EU member states, the EC would publish them
in the official journal of the EU, at which point they would
be binding. All EU member states would have to adhere to
them.
5. (C) Wegner noted that, in this scenario, the GOG would not
have to draft regulations and instead would amend existing
laws, presumably the Foreign Trade and Payments Act (FTPA),
to incorporate the sanctions' provisions and penalties for
violations. Considering that the sanctions are likely to be
economic in nature, the BMWi would probably have the lead in
amending the FTPA. The government would publish the amended
laws in the federal gazette, at which point they would be
binding. Wegner said that any violations of UN or EU
sanctions would be a felony, with a minimum penalty of one
year in prison.
TIMKEN JR